The Philippine Heart Association-NCR kicked off the World Heart Day (WHD) 2016 at the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel and Multi-purpose Covered Court at the F&E Destro Subd., Niog 3, Bacoor, Cavite on September 25, 2016.This year’s 2016 roster of activities bore PHA’s two flagship advocacies – CPR and the 52100 healthy lifestyle – with the PHA NCR and chapters either simultaneously celebrating or marking it between September 25 and October 10, 2016.

In Bacoor, after the 6 am Mass, officiated by Fr. Odhee Pascual, parish priest, San Lorenzo Parish, the young once with their young ones proceeded to the Heart Fair at the parish gym.The heavily hyped preventive steps included recommendations like: 52100 a day, have a routine check-up every year, people aged 40 and up with a strong family history of cardiovascular disease should see their heart doctor and undergo risk factor screenings regularly.

The results of the patient-participants’ risk factor screenings (BP taking, cholesterol and fasting blood sugar tests, waist measurement, and ECG as needed), and consultations were recorded in their individual Healthy Lifestyle passports; the reactive measures were: Save lives, learn CPR.WHD in Bacoor grossed the biggest number of pedia participant-patients in PHA history. This group of young audience was as enthusiastic as the adults in learning CPR and the tenets of 52100.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is like an intruder that attacks even the most unlikely victim.

The unexpected, unexplained, sudden death of a professional athlete, a recreational marathoner, especially a teen participating in athletic competitions is a big blow to the family, team, school, and to the sports and medical communities.

A few months ago, basketball aficionados were deeply saddened by the sudden death of a PBA player. In February this year, running enthusiasts were caught flat-footed when two of their colleagues collapsed and died during the Skyway Marathon.

From 2009 to 2011, three high school students (a basketball, baseball and rugby player) died in the campus playing field, two in the middle of the game, one while warming up. A triathlete died in Subic during the Iron Man competition and could not be revived.Similar unfortunate cases had taken place in the global sports arenas. These stories dramatize the urgent need for the athletic and medical worlds to look into the real underlying cause of death of these athletes.

At the Philippine College of Physicians/Philippine Heart Association (PHA) Health Forum on July 19, 2016, Filipino heart doctors, collectively known as, the PHA and Rain or Shine Coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao, told athletes, wanna-be athletes and sporty people that these tragic incidents should serve as a wake-up call.

“Before pursuing a competitive sport, embarking on a regular or an extreme exercise regimen, undergo screening tests (at least an ECG and physical examination). Put your whole heart into it but in the process, always listen to your body. Don’t overwork your heart,” said PHA President Dr. Raul Lapitan.

There is this misconception that athletes and physically active people are physically infallible. Their hearts are enduring and perpetually strong.

“In some athletes, extreme exercise might even promote heart disease. Most likely these people succumbed to heart condition they did not know they had since birth or they had acquired because of lack of screening.”

During diagnostic tests, these particular cases were not detected. Some may be asymptomatic. For a few, there have been red flags that needed medical attention that had been ignored like unexplained fainting spells (syncope) especially during physical activity, chest pains, palpitations or shortness of breath. “They were unheeded because they thought people who have always been fit and sporty are the last ones to acquire heart disease,” Lapitan added.

During pre-participation cardiovascular screenings, some heart ailments may not be picked up. In addition, it is sometimes hard to replicate the actual stressful conditions that the heart may be subjected to during intensive sports compared to the clinic setting.

“When someone as young as 20- or 30-something suddenly dies during an athletic or a high-intensive workout, usually the most common cause is hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) or (HCM). It is genetic but can’t be detected at birth. They can be diagnosed in teenagers,” said PHA Vice President Dr. Jorge Sison.

HOCM is a primary disease of the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) in which a portion of the myocardium is hypertrophied (thickened) without any obvious case, creating functional impairments of the cardiac muscle. It is the leading cause of sudden death in people with an underlying cardiac disorder. The training for athletes are rigid and too long. There have been reported cases of irregular heart beat or arrhythmia that led to SCD,” said Dr. Alex Junia, PHA Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)-Ready Philippines adviser.

A marathoner himself, Junia added that “as a regular runner, I have learned to listen to my body. When it tells me to slow down, I slow down. When it tells me to stop, I stop. Running or any sport is also a de-stressor but it can be strenuous and cause you stress when you don’t know when to slow down or halt."

The PHA also added that a history of premature sudden death in the family (less than 55 years of age) warrants further investigation as well. Additional cardiac evaluation may include an ECG and stress exercise testing. An echocardiogram will rule out majority of the structural and functional heart abnormalities that can cause sudden death. Stress exercise testing on the other hand, measures exercise capacity and overall cardiopulmonary fitness.

PHA Director and Advocacy Committee chair Dr. Orlando Bugarin said that “there are also non-cardiac conditions that may cause athletes to collapse in the field such as asthma, electrolyte imbalance, severe dehydration and heat stroke but since a majority of death in athletes is cardiac in origin, heart screening is a must.”

Though the benefits of exercise are still recognized to enhance our well-being and quality of life, overdoing it is tough for the heart.

Former Pampanga Congressman Guiao believes that “to achieve optimum performance put balance between health and fitness, of course with professional help.”One of the staunch CPR-Ready Philippines allies of the PHA, Guiao is the main author of House Bill 6204, the CPR Bill or Samboy Lim Bill which requires compulsory hands-only CPR for K-12 students. Approved as Senate Bill 3204 and was enrolled last month, it is expected to lapse into law on July 20, 2016.

PHA conducts advanced cardiac life support trainings for health professionals and basic CPR trainings for the bystander (lay).

Any CPR-equipped person can save the life of a cardiac arrest victim. Effective chest compressions started within 3-5 minutes increases the victim’s chance of survival.

The World Heart Day 2016 (WHD) roster of activities bore PHA’s two flagship advocacies – CPR and the 52100 lifestyle – with various chapters celebrating heart health through a flurry of pursuits on CPR awareness and training, AED promotion and physical activity.

PHA Chapters from among different parts of the country took to the community, the streets, town halls and even malls to commemorate this function in the mission to spread the word of cardiovascular health and casualty evasive measures. A lot of these were focused on the campaign against the growing concern on human inactivity which is what is sought to be combated through Zumba sessions among the Chapters’ activities. And CPR, of course, was still given due importance through continuous trainings and seminars on CPR, one of them being Bataan which culminated to be a leader in the community with the instalment of three publicly accessible AEDs in the city of Balanga.Following the purpose of the advocacies as this year’s theme, everyone united for one cause: To celebrate heart health through a day of rhythm, learnings and continued efforts at raising awareness and promoting lifesaving measures in the community.Baguio-Benguet

PHA Baguio-Benguet Chapter celebrated the WHD last September 25, 2016 with a festive atmosphere led by the PHA Baguio officers, the sisters of St. Paul Chartres and Notre Dame, the Chartres Hospital personnel, and the faculty members and students of Saint Louis Center High School. The celebration started with a parade beautifully led by a drum and lyre band along Baguio’s main thoroughfare, Session Road. This was followed by a 52100 lecture by Dr. Annie Olarte, free blood chemistry workshop and the hands-only CPR training.Cagayan Valley

The six-year-old BP ng Teacher Ko, Alaga Ko campaign has gone to Luzon (Vigan, Ilocos Sur); Visayas (Kalibo, Aklan) and Mindanao (Surigao) and posted an attendance of 903 in three months from June to August 2016.The PHA and Department of Education (DepEd), through a grant from LRI-Therapharma, continue the noble mission in spreading cardiovascular disease prevention and management awareness in the education sector.

Every BP ng Teacher Ko… event starts with the presentation of the 52100 and Deadma, Dead Ka Healthy Lifestyle and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) instructional video and lecture.The cardiologist that heads the team would explain every tenet of the 52100 and the repercussions of abusing one’s health. Not knowing or ignoring your risks like hypertension and obesity can lead to serious cardiovascular diseases which could be avoided with simple, day-to-day compliance with 52100.

The highlight of the activity is the Risk Factors Screenings (Blood Pressure monitoring, sugar and cholesterol examinations, waistline/BMI checks and ECG as needed).The teacher-patients proceed to the consultation desks once they have the complete results of their tests.

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA), in coordination with the World Heart Federation (WHF), with support from the World Health Organization, Department of Health, the Foundation for Lay Education on Heart Diseases, and the Heart Foundation of the Philippines, celebrates World Heart Day on September 26, 2010 at the Central Plaza of Market! Market! Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

This year’s celebration, which marks the 10th year milestone of the World Heart Day commemoration, carries the theme “Workplace Wellness”, and aims to use the workplace to promote long-term behavioural changes that will benefit employers, employees and communities. Research has shown that workplace-wellness programmes have benefits for both employees and employers, by improving health, productivity and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. At this 10-year milestone, the PHA joins the WHF in urging government, healthcare professionals, employers and individuals to reduce the burden of heart disease and stroke. This year, World Heart Day will encourage everyone to take responsibility for their own heart health and say “I work with heart”.

World Heart Day was created by the World Heart Federation 10 years ago to inform people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death claiming 17.1 million deaths each year.

This year, World Heart Day is taking place on Sunday, 26 September 2010. Activities will include the launch of a global cardiovascular disease 10-year report card in partnership with the World Health Organization and the World Economic Forum as well as a comparative survey of heart healthy occupations. National activities organised by members and partners of the World Heart Federation may also include public talks, walks and runs, concerts, sporting events and much more.

To get involved, find out more or to just tell us about your experiences working in a healthy workplace visit www.worldheartday.org

September 27, 2009 is World Heart Day! This global event is simultaneously held every 4th Sunday of September in 100 countries.

This year, the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) is the lead agency of this global celebration, supported by the Heart Foundation of the Philippines, Department of Health, Foundation for Lay Education of Health Diseases and the World Health Organization.

This year's WHD celebration and Heart Fair will be held at the Central Plaza of Eastwood City in Libis, Quezon City!